Say it with music. This week we explored music as our muse, finding a “Sound of the Season,” and using that inspiration to pen our poems. The varying results are astounding. The choices are as always, difficult. But we carry on. Here are this week’s BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS.
MARIE ELENA’S BLOOM:
To my own discredit, there are times (probably far too many) when I do not take the time to slowly draw in and savor the work of the extraordinary poets easily accessible to me. All I can say is that I’m thankful I took the time this morning to slowly breathe in and relish Jane Shlensky’s “Adoration.” The poetic beauty and multiple layers of this piece are simply remarkable. Oh, to pen such eloquence …
ADORATION by Jane Shlensky
We shook our heads when she returned
from walking woods, as often she did,
each time carrying some treasure of burl
or mistletoe, Indian Pipe or sassafras root.
This time she dragged a young maple
dry and stripped of leaves, killed
in its spring, torn from the ground,
its slender trunk splintered like bone.
She stood it in the greenhouse, a skeleton
surrounded by greening seedlings, its bark
slowly curling away in ribbons from white
smoothness beneath. At advent, she built
for it a stand and hung from its naked limbs
fluffs of Spanish moss. Each spray of twigs
stretching like fingers of an empty hand
outstretched, she filled with a bird’s nest,
song birds of wood and clay perched
among the branches, a single dove lighting
on the highest limb, its wings lifted as if
it carried in its claws the hope of the world.
The holy family assembled at the foot of the tree
around an empty manger, poised to adore the newborn,
kneeling, bearing gifts, nudging the animals aside
for a glimpse of his light. But where was he?
The child, already in flight, nested aloft, hardly
bigger than the blue eggs that surrounded him.
He was risen among wild things that offered him
the gift of themselves, their ode to joy a chorus
of birdsong cradling his dreams. Each year
we dreamed of receiving, of fir trees smelling
of evergreen, our visions flightless. She saw
the broken and dead and dreamed of resurrection.
Her tree, no more than a memory now, returns to me
each Christmas, each Easter, each walk through woods,
each flutter and tweet of birds at my feeder, and
I am brought to my knees in humility, in adoration.
WALT’S SELECTION:
In the past week there has been much talk of “Angels” – a common description of the innocent souls who were taken from us so young. And it seemed to be a shared inspiration for our poets this week. I chose this poem from all the great entries because it is a wonderful expression of the season, and well… because it was the first one to present angels as a theme. At that, I present this BEAUTIFUL BLOOM to Salvatore Buttaci. Congratulations Salvatore, and Merry Christmas!
ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY by Salvatore Buttaci
Those who remained behind
Gathered about the throne of God
Glorifying His gift
to the world of humanity
While angels sang praises
On Earth to the newborn infant,
His Son, the Word made flesh
To dwell among us for a time
Angels from the realms of glory,
All the saints who had died
Loving and living God’s commands,
Watched from heavenly heights
A child wrapped in swaddling clothes,
His mother sweet Mary,
His foster father good Joseph,
The donkeys braying.
A promise God had vowed
Long before time and space began
He kept at Bethlehem
In a stable, beneath a star
He sent twinkling above
The shepherds, the wise men, the world
That was changed forever
When the Infant drew his first breath
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:01 AM
Oh, Jane…this is such a treasure and I am with you Marie and thankful for the reminder…the importance of slowing-taking in fully the beauty. I’m so glad this was my first read this morning…setting such a tone of gratitude for the day.
Sal…your words bring to life anew the miracle that is here and now…such a vivid telling such a beautiful bloom.
Congratulations to you both!!! Warm smiles to all.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:03 AM
Both soo beautiful! Congratulations, Jane and Salvatore!!
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:29 AM
I am indeed impressed by the beauty of these two poems. Thank you Salvatore and Jane for gracing us with your touching works.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:52 AM
We thank you both for your words to lift the spirit and remind us what
Christmas means.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Thanks, Hanna and Henrietta, for your kind praise.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Linda, thanks!
December 22nd, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Thanks so much, Marie and Walt! And thanks to Sal for his beautiful poem and to our poetic friends for their kind words.
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Lovely poems for the season Jane & Sal. Thanks for sharing.
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:17 PM
Timely beauty, each one profound and worthy of close reading.
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:53 PM
Walt and Marie, such stunning blooms indeed! Congratulations Jane and Salvatore!
Merry Christmas to all.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:19 PM
Oh Walt and Marie, I am missing so much not spending time here lately.
These blooms were earned with whispering heartsong and softly humming soul. Jane, I felt tears rise like musical tides with every stanza; Salvatore, you made a donkey’s bray sing with joy.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:23 PM
Yes, and we miss you much, Damon!
Marie Elena
December 23rd, 2012 at 6:52 AM
Yes, miss you 7!!
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:27 AM
Such lovely choices – congratulations to both of you, Jane and Salvatore – poignant, heartfelt poems and well-deserved blooms for Christmas -
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:25 AM
Ah, two masters who graced us with magnificence in poetic form. Thank you, Jane and Sal. I’ll stop what I’m doing to read you anytime the opportunity presents itself, and these were definitely worth several stops.
Congratulations, both of you.
And Walt and Marie–terrific choices for this season and this prompt.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:41 PM
each of these poems brought a new gladness to my heart this morning – such insight and light adding to this season of adoration